Every year, HUD releases income limits which determines the amount at which you qualify for federal housing programs like Section 8. These numbers are based on the percentage of median household incomes by family size in certain locations according to the Census.

This means the higher the cost of living is in a certain area, the higher the median income and thus, the higher the low-income limit.

New Jersey is tied for first place, along with Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts, as the state with the highest income limit for a family of four to be considered low-income.

Because the cost of living can vary greatly by location, HUD also calculates more specific income limits for different areas. For example, a family of four in San Francisco could earn as much as $105,350 a year and still be considered low-income by HUD.

There are 11 HUD income limit areas that cover the 21 New Jersey counties. You can use our tool below to compare in which New Jersey counties you’d be considered low income according to HUD.

Below are the 11 HUD areas ranked from lowest to highest income limit for a family of four in New Jersey.

Note: there are some HUD areas that include an expansive area of New Jersey. For example, HUD considers Essex, Morris, Union and Sussex counties as part of the “Newark NJ HUD Metro Area”. Other areas are very specific like “Warren County, NJ HUD Metro Area” which just includes Warren County.